The longer evenings and sunny afternoons that come hand in hand with springtime are bringing us the positive vibes we seriously need right now. We all know that Vitamin D is essential to our health and wellbeing, but how do you soak up those rays when research shows that over a lifetime the average citizen spends 85% of their time indoors?
No matter your budget, you might not be up for major construction work, so here are some ideas to usher the light in using clever tricks and furniture choices that don’t cost the earth, and definitely don’t require planning permission.
Mirrors
The use of mirrors is Natural Light 101, and there’s a good reason… they work! Large, reflective surfaces give the illusion of more space and help to bounce light that might be trapped near its source (like a window or a door) into the hidden corners of a room.
A large mirror like this Lenaig Industrial Mirror over the centre piece of a living area, like a sofa, sideboard or headboard is a ready-made problem solver to help you brighten things up. Same goes for the Lenaig Industrial Window-Style Mirror – add it at the end of a dreary hallway or to pokey box room that needs a lift.
Transparency
Just like mirrors, picking transparent or reflective materials in lieu of doing structural work like adding extra windows, skylights and glass doors is an easy fix. Choose light, airy fabrics for curtains, floors and bedding to really open spaces up and help the beams of the light you do have travel further.
The Sybil Two-Tier Round Coffee Table in Tempered Glass by AM.PM is perfect for creating a functional zone without cluttering up smaller, darker spaces. It’ll also serve to reflect light upwards. The Alvina Scandi-Style Solid Pine Kitchen Display Cabinet is also a fab option if you want more from a kitchen bathed in shade.
Lighting
A simple rule of thumb when it comes to lighting is to add a minimum of three sources to each room. Where a pendant light fixture, however spectacular, draws the eye to the centre of a space, wall lights and lamps help to spread it around, highlighting zones you might not have noticed. And it might not be obvious, but strategically placed synthetic light sources can help bolster natural light too.
These Brass Mistinguett Wall Lights in Textured Glass & Metal are a subtle yet stylish option to help spread light when you need it, and during the day their glass exterior will help bounce natural light in the direction it needs to go. The same can be said for these gorgeous Trigala Art Deco Geometric Mirrored Wall Lights which will draw the eye upwards creating the effect of a higher ceiling.
Balance
When you spend most of your time in a small space that you can’t change, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you can’t invest in the interior style you want. It’s important to remember that if you employ the techniques we’ve run through, you don’t have to go without the rich colours and texture fabrics you want too.
If you need those dark wood accents to make your living room feel cosy, do it, but add glass to keep the space light. This Watford Glass Top Walnut Coffee Table does this job, with added bells on. Balance a heavy bed frame or dark, cosy bedroom walls with pale bedding like this Scenario Organic Cotton Duvet Cover in bright white. There’s nothing to say that even panelled walls and dark ceilings are off limits – just add recessed lighting, a pale rug and a set of mirrors to lift it up.
